The Dawn Of Ages - Quenched

[Kabanellas]

No prob

like you said:

First of all, the general style of your map looks great. It gives of a good feeling for what you're shooting for. Based on the looks alone, I would play it.

so if it's appealing enough for you to make that first try, I'm quite sure that it will get in to you for a second try with everything becoming much more familiar then.

[thenobodies80]

The problem of the use of the word Ork (or Gork) is that this term was "coined" by Tolkien.
However, Tolkien used a term that already exists and adapting it to their needs and creating a characters with fantastic features.
But you don't have a picture/drawning of a Ork but only a name, so it's a different problem.

Anyway, It seems that ork isn't copyrighted, so you can use this word.

We have indications of the term ork in the oldest writings in the greek-roman mythology, Orlando Furioso by Ariosto, in the Legend of Beowulf and many other fairy tales or stories of the past. (in some Ogre istead of Ork)
However, i think that your map contains explicit references to the Tolkien's work, causing an immediate connection between the word ork (ogre) and the Tolkien's ork.
This could be a problem,It would like to use the term Hobbit on the map, a term created by Tolkien and copyrighted.
But I am not of the opinion that the best solution is to delete the term Ork/Gork and replacing it with a more generic word like ogre.
I think that you should work on other elements in the map far more worrisome for the directy connection with Tolkien.
(The Two Towers, The Mount Doom).
I am in favour to suggest you to keep the term Gork (Ork/Ogre) but to remove/modify the connections to Tolkien (eg rename Mount doom , maybe Plains of doom ) and try to create an original world of fantasy without lose that magical feeling that the stories of Tolkien have.

I think you're able to do that

Have a nice day
thenobodies80

[Kabanellas]

Thanks Nobodies!

Well... there was a Mount Doom in Tolkien’s work if I remember right. In here we have the Mountains of Doom. I could think of another name that brings the same feeling…
but coming to think of it, the name/term 'Mountains of Doom' is widely used, even referring to the Everest. Should it be really a problem?

And should we use the word Ork, instead of Gork? That would be great.

Meanwhile, I’ve been testing some new fonts, some of them suggested by Helix.

In Test 3, I’ve used in the south one font called ‘The Ring Bearer’, in the West (human territories) I’ve used one called Papyrus. In the rest you still can see the old font. I’ve also changed the font style in the legend.
Which one do you prefer?

Test 1


Test 2


Test 3

Click image to enlarge.

[AndrewB]

I personally like the font, used on the "Tel-Amon"
Nice and crisp.

[Danyael]

ok i like the tel amon font it does match the ink map look
but at the same time I like the font on mount doom it matches the map look
but it also looks better for clarity reasons(personal opinion) but i'd say one of those
but if you increase the size a touch or 2 the tel amon font would be great 9might not fit in doom area
on a side note you cursive font in the legend is nice but the smaller text is hard to see

Well... there was a Mount Doom in Tolkien’s work if I remember right. In here we have the Mountains of Doom. I could think of another name that brings the same feeling…
but coming to think of it, the name/term 'Mountains of Doom' is widely used, even referring to the Everest. Should it be really a problem?

as it not as simple as cut and paste
or proving orc or ork is not copyright
names like(mount doom) those trend to be trademarked and some copyright laws
better safe then sorry and coming up with a different name

[Kabanellas]

Version 8,

-Font change
-Added 1 more region (to reach a easier dividable number - 32 distributable regions now)
-Change 'Mount doom' to 'Valley of Doom'
-Added some art and some location names

Click image to enlarge.

[Industrial Helix]

Hmm... I like this current font you're using. Ringbearer is nice, btu i dunno if it fits the hand written inky font you're looking for. I don't really like Papyrus so much though because I'm getting tired of looking at it everywhere I go.

[Kabanellas]

well, I've tested a lot of them... ended up choosing the 'Ringbearer' one featured in that site you've suggested

yes, I lost the manuscript look but I like it the way it is now....

[Kabanellas]

Ok! Finally, a billion and a half fonts later, I’m done with this insane Font Quest. This is the result I pretty much wanted.
Version 8.1

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[AndrewB]

Looks good!

[Kabanellas]

Posting version 9

-Some slight changes on House of Gods mechanics. Neutrals changed from 6 to 4
-Hellnor will NOT connect to the other ports. (routes work in one direction only)

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[porkenbeans]

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Kab, While browsing the new projects, I came upon your project. And, although I am one that usualy goes for color, and lots of it, I really like where this map is going. I have seen many maps that try to simulate an old parchment style. but none have the promise of pulling it off like your map does. It really reminds me of what an old, authentic treasure map would look like.
Instead of just making suggestions like everybody else does, I like to provide a quick illustration to show my ideas. It is very crude and by no means meant to step on your artistic toes. Just illustrating my suggestions so you can see, instead of trying to imagine them.
Good luck with this one, I hope to get a chance to play it one day.

[porkenbeans]

Click image to enlarge.

Lighter version.

[Kabanellas]

actually, I like the direction you're going there really do!

what treatment have you given to the map?

[porkenbeans]

Are you using photoshop ?
I would be happy to give you the layers that I created. Then you could see exactly what I did, and you could tweak them to your liking. I would even be glad to do a more professional job, but I would need a copy without the text.

[Kabanellas]

I'm using fireworks..... PNG file.

I could transfer to Photoshop though, but maybe I could do the same in Fireworks. What filters are you using and how?

btw, don't get to technical on me, I'm not an art/graphic designer. Just a simple architect

[porkenbeans]

Getting to tech. will not be a problem, as I really do not know too much about all of the tech. terms. As a matter of fact, I am not even very computer savvy. I was given photoshop as a gift about 6 months ago, by a friend, so as to have something to do while I was stuck convalescing at home. I first tried to read the manual, but not being a computer person, I just did not understand any of the terms. I was left with just experimenting, and learning on the cuff.
That being said, What I actually did was create some additional layers, and used a variety of different transfer modes and settings. I could go through it all step by step, but it would take up a shitload of typing. I could post each layer here and you could go into each one to see exactly what I did. Do you have the ability to do this ? if not I will try the best I can to explain the steps for each layer.

[porkenbeans]

Click image to enlarge.

A little more farting around with the settings.
BTW, with the land darkened like this, I think that you can change the red attack routes to a light shade of the off white that is already on the map. The red seems out of place to me, and does not really work with this treatment.

[Kabanellas]

Ok, there's a way that we could pull this trough. Make all that you're doing in a different layer, and save it (just your new layer) into a PNG file when choosing 'save as'. This PNG file must have the transparency ON so when I merge it with my original file, layers won't over pose.

[Kabanellas]

... but I think I got what your making here - you're using the 'brush' or the 'paint bucket' tool with the 'colour burn' or soft 'softlight mode', right?

I'll give it a try and post it here right away

[Kabanellas]

I think its pretty much it, taking Porkenbeans idea of burning the parchement, I think It gives a quite interesting look to the map.

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[porkenbeans]

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Hope this works, The layers are in order starting with the dark layer.

[Kabanellas]

Thanks again Porkenbeans! I think the map, graphically, improved a lot with your idea!! I'll do it in a diferent way. I'll just fill part of the map with a colour burn effect that pretty much does what you've shown.

Lighter version, and better in my opinion

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Darker version

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[porkenbeans]

YW friend,
You have done an excellent job of producing the effect.
2 notes,
#1, the land could use a little toning down with the yellow.
#2, the subtle, but important effect that the white layer on the edge of the water, where it meets the land, should not be underestimated. just that little extra touch of contrast there, really makes it pop. as does the subtle effect of the darkened corners. It draws your eyes towards the center of the map.

[Kabanellas]

I know what you mean there.. in the shore areas. I'll try it